Xfer Serum 2 v2.0.16 [VR|TCD] VST3|AAX [WIN] [03/22/2025]
SERUM 2
An Advanced Hybrid Synthesizer
WHY SERUM 2?
The original motivation for creating Serum was the desire to create a dream synth that didn’t exist yet:
a wavetable synthesizer with truly high-quality sound, a visual and creative interface
focused on workflow so that creating and modifying sounds is fun rather than tedious,
and the ability to “dig deep” when needed – create/import/edit/transform wavetables
and manipulate them while playing back in real time.
Serum version 2 opens up the sonic palette wide, offering the user incredible sonic power,
control and expressiveness – with multiple oscillator types, flexible effect customization, an arpeggiator
and a clip sequencer – the goal of Serum 2 was to give Serum users the ability to fully realize their sonic
and musical ideas into form. Did we mention that Serum 2 is a free update for Serum 1 owners?
Lifetime free updates actually mean lifetime free updates.
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MULTIPLE OSCILLATOR TYPES
WAVE OSCILLATOR
Serum’s now legendary wavetable oscillator just got more flexible. Smooth interpolation mode lets you
create a virtually infinite number of frame positions in the wavetable (no conversion required).
There’s filtering, FM, PD, ring modification, distortion, and the new wave distortions. Even we’ve yet to
fully explore the dual distortion capabilities available for any of the main oscillator types.
MULTISAMPLE OSCILLATOR
Lets you reproduce real instruments and sounds found elsewhere.
Serum 2 comes with a vast, exclusive, and original library of real instruments
recorded all over the world, including orchestras, choirs, pianos, guitars, and more.
Create or import your own multi-sample recordings using the sfz (open standard and user-friendly) file format
.
SAMPLE OSCILLATOR
Despite the simple premise of sample playback, the sample generator is a powerful performer.
While the sample generator is really good at sample playback and supports
FM/PD/distortion types, it also supports looping with instantaneous cycle detection, flexible cyclic modulation,
frequency control for “tape stop” and similar effects, sample slicing with
real-time score extraction/playback, tile mode and more.
GRANULAR OSCILLATOR
Serum 2 adds a powerful granular oscillator that, despite its small appearance,
packs a lot of sophisticated features, allowing you to experiment with a wide range of ways to create
new sounds / breathe new life into sample material.
SPECTRAL OSCILLATOR
The spectral oscillator enables real-time re-synthesis of samples at the harmonic level,
while transient detection processing similar to that used in advanced
time stretching algorithms allows for radical time and frequency manipulation.
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NEW MODULATIONS
The modulation section has seen some changes, you can now use up to 10 LFOs, however the chaos modulators
from the original global section are missing. Instead, we can switch any LFO to one of three chaos modes: Lorenz, Rossler and S&H.
Lorenz and Rossler are a nice controlled chaos based on strange attractors, each with separate X and Y modulation outputs.
The new LFO Path mode lets you draw a vector path that generates X and Y modulated outputs,
allowing Serum 2 to support up to 20 LFO sources.
The path and 2D chaos modulators are great for modulating LFO points. In the previous version of serum, LFO point modulation was convenient,
but often the modulators would run out before you could use the feature to its full potential. This time around, LFO point modulation
has become even more exciting thanks to the modulation remaps feature that single-handedly made me fall in love with Vital,
and is now coming to Serum 2. You can now remap any modulation, meaning that as long as you plan on supporting
multiple LFO shapes with the same LFO rate, you can simply remap a simple ramp to as many LFO shapes as you want.
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EFFECTS
Effects have been heavily reworked, previously Serum only had one instance of each effect in a sequential layout.
Now we get three channels of effects, multiple instances of each effect, and multi-band or intermediate split paths.
The ability to layout effects in different configurations and load multiple instances of each effect is a major improvement.
Chaining together copies of the same effect can lead to a wide range of experimental techniques, and
using the intermediate EQ and distortion will add a new level of polish to the presets.
A couple of new effects have been added, as well as some new reverb modes. The new Bode frequency converter is really cool,
it has a delay built into the feedback channel and even a blur control. The addition of convolution reverb is great,
you can use it to create physically modeled instrument bodies or to create realistic reverb conditions
in your patches. The large number of built-in IRS and the new reverb modes also greatly improve the reverb styles.
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ARP AND MIDI
Finally, Serum 2 has an ARP and midi clip player. Each of these has a key range that lets you switch
between different snapshots, similar to many of Native Instruments’ synths. The arp is nice to have, and it’s really fun to play around with snapshots
while simultaneously playing different chords for arpeggios. I’ve seen this feature before, but it feels a little more intuitive here.
The clip launcher is great though, being able to save melodies and rhythms as a preset makes Serum 2 feel even more like a groovebox
than a synth. I can imagine a setup using just a few instances of Serum 2 and simply changing snapshots
to complete a set. It’s also worth noting that each clip snapshot can contain automation for macros and even probabilities
for note attributes. The new clip creation system opens up a lot of potential.
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MIXER
Serum 2 also features a completely redesigned mixing workflow. It features a new mix section/tab
with a full mixer with dedicated channels for each oscillator, filter, bus, and master section. This eliminates
the old Serum 1 mixing process and allows for more flexible mixing of sounds and effects.
There are also some great additions in the effects section. Firstly, you can work with the new M/S and L/H splitter,
allowing you to prepare your sounds for recording even better. Secondly, you can work with the new convolution reverb
with ready-to-use IRs that can load custom files.
In addition, they are no longer limited to the main signal. The new mixing engine of Serum 2 gives you the ability
to add effects to the bus 1 and bus 2 channels as well.
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IN THE SET
Serum 2 comes with over 626 presets and 288 wavetables.
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Note For
more detailed information on the functionality and innovations in Serum 2,
you can find the manual, which is attached to the distribution.
Year | Release date : 22.03.2025
Version : 2.0.16
Developer : Xfer
Format : VST3|AAX
Bit depth : 64bit
Tablet : Present
System requirements :
☑ Win 10+
Size : 1.26 GB
